Photographing Needlework

Photographing completed needlework is often done for one of two reasons. I don't know about all of you, but I have either sold or given as gifts much of the cross stitch I've done. I photograph it so I'll be able to remember what I've done when I don't have the needlework any more. In this computer age, there's another reason to photograph. Many of us like to put pictures of finished needlework on our websites, and taking a photo helps us do so.

There are 3 ways to "photograph" needlework. The first (and most highly recommended to me) is to use a 35-mm single lens reflex camera. This is the camera you focus and set for the lighting conditions yourself. I've been advised the 35 mm cameras that are auto-focus don't do well for needlework. I believe the reason is that they focus only on one point and may make the rest of the needlework, when taken close up, to look blurry. I've had decent success using a 35-mm camera with a regular lens, but I'm currently looking for a macro lens for it. Macro lenses will allow much better close-up photography not just of needlework, but of other things, too. It will be interesting to see how well I can photograph things like flowers to change into charts--something I've been trying for years to do. I also use 400-speed film because it is good in varying sources of light, which we'll discuss later in this article. Also available now is variable-speed film, which aids you in resetting the speed of your camera depending upon light sources.

The other two ways to get pictures of your needlework are computer-related. The first of these is to use a digital camera. I don't have one of these, but most of the stitchers who have used one really like the images from them. They also tell me they need some practice before the images come out to their liking, so I suggest you not expect miracles right away. Digital cameras are lightweight, which often means it's a good idea either to set them on something or to use a tripod when you photograph. Doing so will help hold the camera still and will result in a less blurry image. The cost of digital cameras varies from about $199.00 up. One of the nice things about a digital camera is that you don't have to use film. The pictures are stored on a floppy disk, which you can view later in your computer in a graphics or paint program. You can delete the pictures you don't like without wasting film. You can also use the program to clean up or to alter colors, depending upon the sophistication of the graphics program. And if you have a color printer, you can also print the images.

The third way to photograph needlework is to scan it using a flatbed scanner attached to your computer. I have done so with one item and was pleased with the results. With a graphics program in your computer, even if the needlework is bigger than the surface of the scanner, you can scan various parts of the needlework and then put them together into one image. You can see a scanned image of some of my needlework at this Internet address: http://members.aol.com/hblossomxs/page35.html

In most cases, photographing needlework can present some problems, but all of them can be solved in one way or another. The first of these is having enough light to do the photography. If you use a scanner, light is not a problem. With a 35-mm camera or a digital camera, it can pose difficulties. One solution to the light question is to photograph outdoors, which is something I try to do whenever possible. I like using natural light, and a pretty day does the trick. I also try photographing at different times of the day to catch the best effect. If you want to photograph indoors, depending upon how light your house is, you may need to add light. You can do this in one of several ways. The first is to use a flash attachment on your camera. The second is to add artificial lighting by putting behind you a worklight or lamps with the shades removed. You'll be between the lights and the picture if you try this.

There was some concern Monday night about lighting for photography. One member pointed out at many quilt shows, photography is not allowed because the extra light can damage the fabrics in the quilt. I am trying to get some more info about this and will pass it along as soon as I receive it. It may be a problem using any of the lights necessary for cameras and also for the lights used in scanners.

The second problem you'll encounter when photographing has to do with whether you use glass in the picture. I always use regular glass. Nonglare glass has not been recommended to me for needlework because the acid used in making it can leach through to needlework. It also is expensive and can distort one's view of large pieces. The most common problem if you use glass is glare in your photos if you're using a digital or 35-mm camera. For quite a while, I nearly stood on my head to photograph my needlework after I had put it all together, including glass. Then, something dawned on me I should have realized before. If there isn't any glass, there isn't going to be any glare. Because I frame everything myself, I put the entire picture together minus the glass, photograph it, and then add the glass. I've been told there are framers out there who will work with you if you ask them...putting the picture together without the glass, letting you photograph it, and then adding the glass. If you have your work professionally framed, you may want to ask about this. Glare can come from using a flash attachment, from using additional lighting behind you, or from natural light either indoors or out. One help would be to try to take your photos at an angle at which the glare doesn't show.

With 35-mm cameras, it's often hard to have good clarity in your photo. This doesn't seem to be the case with a digital camera or a scanner. The reason for the difficulty with a 35-mm camera is that it's hard to get a good close-up photo with a regular lens. Here's where a macro lens will help you trememdously. You'll get a much sharper image close up than you will with the regular lens. Macro lenses cost around $150.00 new; however, I am watching for other sources to find one that doesn't cost so much.

Something else to consider if you photograph your needlework is the background against which you hang it. The piece should be hung at the eye level of the photographer. You'll find you get better pictures if you use a background that contrasts with the picture itself. A good example of this that may help you see what I mean are the Lavender & Lace charts, which always include a picture of the stitched and framed piece. Because Marilyn often uses light colored fabric and gold frames, you'll see many of her photos taken against a dark wallpaper with a small print. The color complements the needlework, and the picture itself stands out against the background, making it easier to see. If I were to photograph needlework done on dark fabric, I'd probably use a light-colored background on which to hang it. One thing I'm considering doing is to keep a large piece of foam core board specifically for placing behind needlework when I photograph it. Then, I can cover it with a fabric or wallpaper of my choosing when it's time to take pictures.

I mentioned earlier in this article pictures should be hung at the eye level of the photographer. When I photograph outdoors, this is very hard to do. Friday, I stated I have no outside walls for hanging needlework, and everyone visualized me living out in the woods. ;-) It dawned on me later what I'd said wasn't what I really meant. The walls of my house and garage are not attractive enough to hang needlework for photography, although I DO have them. ;-) One member says she hangs her pictures on a rustic fence to take pictures. I have an old stone fireplace in my back yard which I try to use as background when possible. With these items as background, it may not be possible to take photos head-on if you are standing. My solution to this problem is to be sure the stitched item is placed at my eye level when I sit down on a lawn chair to take the photographs.

Finally, we talked about storage of needlework photos. Once again, I found stitchers to be a creative bunch. :-) Some make scrapbooks for their photos and even decorate the covers. Others use photo albums. I began with a photo album. For each photo, I included an index card indicating the date the work was finished, any prizes won, the designer, the name of the chart, the person for whom the needlework was done, etc. I have now transferred all this info to a needlework diary--a book made especially for the purpose. Because I've been stitching for so long, it's nice to look back and to remember. A diary or scrapbook can also provide you with a catalogue to show if anyone wants you to do needlework for them.

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